Saturday, January 26, 2008

These books were confiscated by the Internal Security Ministry because they, "offended the sensibilities of Muslims because Islam forbids the depiction of prophets."They were returned a few days ago.There was no apology, explanation whatsoever from the zealots who snatched them away.

The incident happened in mid December.We did not know about it till January 11th when Malaysiakini broke the news.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Malaysiakini did not publish the news?The book would have remained seized.Booksellers would have fears selling illustrated Christian books for children.Importers would not dare bring in any Christian literature for fear of it being held up like SIB's Sunday School materials.If you are a Christian, your young children will go straight to reading the NIV Bible instead of the Illustrated Bible [which may not be a bad thing after all]

Can you imagine if Malaysians [yes, Malaysians. Protests came from both the Christians and the non-Christians] had remained silent?well,The book would have remained seized.Booksellers would have fears selling illustrated Christian books for children.Importers would not dare bring in any Christian literature for fear of it being held up like SIB's Sunday School materials.If you are a Christian, your young children will go straight to reading the NIV Bible instead of the Illustrated Bible [which may not be a bad thing after all]

Can we afford to stay silent?Can we still remain apolitical as our children's rights are being trampled and unwarranted fear intentionally cast?Think about it. Pray over it.

12 comments:

I am now afraid to say my prayers. You see just like every other Christian who prays....and not that I pray as much as I need to really....I end it with Amen!..I now see that Muslims in Malaysia too end their prayers with Amen or amin or something sounding similar. So, now that I canot say Allah, will I be stopped using Amen too?

And you know what. Just came to mind, we say, Alamak all the time. And we mostly say, "Allah" in exasperation when caught in such circumstances. You think we could have our heads hammered in next time we say these things?

And oh...they do say Grace to before meals...Maybe we should stop saying ours! the structure of prayers too seem similar...maybe we should be changing ours too!

Pour forth Your wrath upon the nations that do not recognize You and upon the kingdoms that do not invoke Your name. For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his habitation. Pour forth Your fury upon them and let Your burning wrath overtake them. Pursue them with anger and destroy them from beneath the heavens of the Lord!

(Psalm 78:6-7)

A God of vengeance is the LORD (Psalm 94:1)

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth vengeance, he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked (Psalm 58)

Thanks for highlighting this Lulu. Based on the above verses, you can guess how I will be praying and voting.

old fart, another thing, sometimes we christians pray with both our hands, palms up too (esp. when we say the lord's prayer - our father - in church). they (you know who they) too pray likewise with both palms up.... don't tell me one day they say we can't do it too!!!

so fed up lah!! always talk about their sensitivities when they overlook OUR sensitivities.

lulu, i have seen many of these books in our church library, and even CDs of stories of the prophets in cartoon form - to us nothing wrong, so why should these extremist muslims deem them as affecting their sensitivities?? idiots!! so very the fed up lah!!!

pray? with palms up and say amen? but they too do that!! what if they say we can't?

Can we still remain apolitical as our children's rights are being trampled and unwarranted fear intentionally cast?YES!well (b4 you start whacking me up) i mean not joining any political parties and such. the opposition are pretty much still in disarray. but nevertheless, my vote will not go to the ruling coalition.

Think about it. Pray over it.Yes, lulu, we did, many sundays, many even fast on that before the national day. It has now reach the level where we must do something about it...

There are 3 possibilities as to what actually happened over the statement by Rev. Wong Kim Kong, the Sec. Gen. of NECF'I think the Bible is very clear – the church has to be apolitical and not be involved in the political process directly. The church is a neutral institution; we cannot take any political inclination towards any particular party or candidate. However, the biblical value of good government can be taught.'

i) He didn't know the difference between apolitical and non partisan. If this is true, it's rather alarming for a Christian leader of his stature.

ii) He was misquoted. This is not the first time (re: Donation to RELA). Misquoted so many times by the press. Hmm, not unlike most politicians

iii) He really meant what he said and he was aware of the meaning of 'apolitical'. If this is true, then I'll be surrendering my Associate membership of NECF after more than 15 years.

I know some Christians have emailed him to seek clarifications. Let's await his response.

Whatever his response, I wonder which version of the Bible he is using since he said the Bible is very clear on these issues, I suspect the NIV (Non Inspired Version). No offence to those using the NIV ha ha ha. But I would recommend the ESV (Extremely Solid Version)

Cause & Effects---------------The Basic Mess is Human Rights has never been put to act. People don't bother because it doesn't touch on the topics that People mind.Only when come one day, Oh God, it comes to Mine!Then, it starts to grumble from inches to miles.

Has Human Rights on Taxes, Assessment, Housing, or any Service from the Public been put to Right and be emphasized?Has anyone bother to see if Service Charges or Management Fee in housing Management been complied?Or Housing Project sticking to Development order been alright?

Poor Malaysians, in every Daily Life, in every Walk of Life,Your Rights could be abused from Head down to bottom line!By each and every Government Department you have the Rights!How many dare to say it is not Alright?How many dare to fight those Departments abusing your Rights?

In a Housing Projecthttp://www.hba.org.my/laws/CourtCases/1996/emko_properties.htmPKNS, MPPJ/MPSJ, Developer, Land Offices, Lawyers and Judges had abuses the Rights of everyone in the Townhouse, so they have to pay Maintenance Fee even they do not have Club House and MC to run!Even "residents" of the so called Townhouse "RA" can abuse other residents including the condos' to allow Developer to develop further without touching Club House and Maintenance Fee!http://aplikasi.kpkt.gov.my/akhbar.nsf/8521d968204e8b454825697400224ca6/ce65fd47b5b2721e4825714900090601?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,boulevard&TableRow=3.1#3Finally, Town Park into Private Handshttp://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=17992&page=1&pp=15&highlight=ria+parkand 10% of Subang Jaya reserved land (58.3ha) into nowhere!!and they are now into Structural plan for further abuses!http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=21037&page=1&pp=15into a City of more Concrete than green land!!The Councilor can flip-flop whatever he likeshttp://hwabeng.org.my/taxonomy/term/33?page=6

EVERY MALAYSIAN SHOULD SUFFER, FOR THEY HAVE BEEN SILENT EVEN ABUSED FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 20 YEARS!!An Assemblyman can abuse the Rights of Residents continuously for the past 15 years from PJ to SJ!!SO ANY ABUSES ARE WELL DESERVED!!

You wanna know the problem with the Christians here in Malaysia? We let the government bully us and we think we are meek by just letting them get away with it. We are pussy and we are now paying the price.

See the pussy who put the comment, "Forgive the ignorant for they know not what they do"? It's because of people like that that the church is facing this nonsense here.

I like the person who left those wonderful verses.

"Pour forth Your wrath upon the nations that do not recognize You and upon the kingdoms that do not invoke Your name. For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his habitation. Pour forth Your fury upon them and let Your burning wrath overtake them. Pursue them with anger and destroy them from beneath the heavens of the Lord!"

"You wanna know the problem with the Christians here in Malaysia? We let the government bully us and we think we are meek by just letting them get away with it. We are pussy and we are now paying the price...."

Did we? No, I don't think so. At least I didn't. Look at the voices of resentment from the Allah issue. Look at what NGO's like OHMSI are doing.

Perhaps you (anon 2.07) could suggest any measures so as not to look and sound meek? Perhaps you could start by putting your name while commenting?

The first step is the way we pray. You said you prayed and fasted. So did I. What did you pray for may I ask? The usual timid litany of "God, please bless this land"?

I pray that God totally destroys the wicked, the corrupt and the unjust leaders in this land. I ask Him to pour out His wrath, vengeance, fury and judgment on them. I ask Him to send angels of destruction to hit them.

Now, how many Christians can stomach that? Want to stop being timid? Start with your prayers.